I just read this article about Microsoft’s new FlexGo program aimed at providing "pay as you go" access to computers. It appears to be a way to combat the irregularity of income streams in emerging markets. http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/271040_msftflex22.html?source=mypi It is an interesting departure from the Open Source initiative that MIT’s Nicholas Negroponte has started. His…
All I hear from other business school students in my classes is that Google is amazing at developing products and coming up with innovative new products. However, I have disagreed since I first saw their attempts to launch "Yahoo-like" copycat products a few years ago. Dont get me wrong, I do believe that their…
We just rented a 20 person lake house on Green Bay in Wisconsin. The place is below: http://www.greatrentals.com/WI/22397.html From what the owner says, it is an old brothel which is located right on Green Bay, has 6 bedrooms, a private beach, access to waterskiing, is 8 miles away from golf, and 17 miles away…
I was talking about this new strategy with a friend of mine at Kellogg who is an avid gamer and worked last summer at EA. We both agreed that Microsoft’s "Live Anywhere" gaming strategy is going to kick some serious butt if they figure out how to make it seamless and integrated. Picture sitting…
Wow! When a friend sent me this link today, I thought it was some sort of cruel joke: http://www.badjocks.com/archive/2006/northwestern-womens-soccer-hazing.htm However, I then verified that the story is "allegedly" true as stated by USA Today and ESPN. http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/soccer/2006-05-15-northwestern-suspension_x.htm?csp=34 In a lot of ways it is shocking since clearly people’s perceptions are that women don’t…
I have spent the last few months reading about the home buying process, studying the market in Seattle, and getting everything in order to buy a house/apartment. However, after creating a Buy vs. Rent model which takes into account all of the tax breaks, loan repayment, etc…., it is sort of clear that the…
I just heard that the two SF Chronicle reporters who wrote the Barry Bonds book "Book of Shadows" have to report to court and turn over the secret Grand Jury court documents that they used to write their book. In addition, they have to tell the court who the person was that illegally leaked the…
It took forever for music companies to realize that CDs were a dying breed and that if they didnt move their music collections to the digital world, someone would do it for them without their permission. Finally, they are putting their collections on the web with the help of services like iTunes, MSN Music, and…
In order to get to New Orleans for JazzFest this past weekend, I had to fly Continental and fly through Houston airport. On both trips I had the worst experience ever. First, Continental has old planes with extremely cramped seats and extremely unhelpful counterpeople. I have never been more uncomfortable flying and will never fly…
Now anyone reading this blog can watch the New Orleans Jazz Fest concerts live at: http://music.msn.com/music/neworleansjazz/home That is phenomenal. I love the fact that live streaming concert video is becoming standard fare. Thanks to AOL for setting the standard with Live 8. You can see what you are missing! Ill make sure to have…